Australia’s largest rail freight network operator, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC), has selected GE Transportation’s (NYSE:GE) Movement Planner solution as the key technology enabler for its Hunter Valley-focused network control optimisation program – it was formally announced today.
ARTC’s Newcastle-based network control, is the nerve centre of Hunter Valley rail operations, where locally based train control professionals make thousands of decisions every day to safely support the annual movement of more than 24,000 tonnes of freight per hour, and tens of thousands of coal, freight, grain and passenger trains each year.
ARTC plans to transform its train control function by integrating and then building on Movement Planner, an advanced software solution by GE Transportation that provides real-time rail traffic planning and optimisation to enable freight to move more efficiently.
“The Hunter Valley rail network is one of the busiest and most complex in the country, supporting the largest coal export port in the world,” ARTC Managing Director and CEO John Fullerton said.
ARTC’s ANCO program aims to use real-time network and train data to enable faster, more informed decisions to better manage train flow and all other activities on track while reducing complexity and coordination across its network.
“Working closely with our customers, we have a strong focus on driving and improving network performance that benefits the entire supply chain. Through the ARTC Network Control Optimisation program, the Movement Planner solution will allow us to improve transport capacity and efficiency, and provide better service performance,” said Jonathan Vandervoort, Group Executive – Hunter Valley Network, ARTC.
“Rail operators face efficiency and productivity challenges today. Here, Digital is a game changer,” said Claire Pierce, Commercial Leader for GE Transportation in ANZ. “Together, GE Transportation and ARTC have the opportunity to bring forward the next frontier of streamlined and expanded throughput from the Hunter Valley coal chain.”
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